Collapsible display sign



United States Patent-O This invention relates to collapsible displaysigns of the type fabricated from cardboard or similar flexiblematerial.

Display signs of this general type are used in merchandising articles infood stores, for example. They must be produced inexpensively and stillbe attractive in appearance and capable of withstanding rather roughtreatment. These signs are often of considerable size when erected, butshould be very compact when disassembled for shipping or storagepurposes.

In accordance with the present invention, a display device of the abovetype has been provided which is fabricated from. lightweight cardboardstock and which is exceptionally rigid when in the assembled position.The device is readily disassembled from the display position and .thedisplay card and its support capable of being packed into a compactpackage suitable for mailing.

The construction of the display card itself is such that .a firm rigidbar is formed across the top thereof, said bar reinforcing the card aswell as supporting the entire weight thereof. In addition, this rigidtop-bar, which is formed integrally with the display card, cooperateswith reinforcing vertical edges of the card to hold the edges in aposition whereby they afiord maximum reinforcing characteristics.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the best mode presentlycontemplated by the inventor for carrying out the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view taken generally from the rear, of adisplay sign made in accordance with this invention; and

Figure 2 is a view of the display card itself in the fully disassembledand unfolded position and as cut and scored from a sheet of stock.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the complete display unit 5has been shown as mounted on a bottle 6 of a carton of bottles, thelatter of which acts as a base for the unit.

The support 7 consists of a round tubular piece of cardboard which maybe of any desired length. If desired, a second tubular piece 8, ofslightly different diameter than tube 7, may be telescopingly mounted ontube 7 so as to form a support of readily adjustable height. Thefriction between the tubes 7 and 8 retain them in any position relativeto one another. The lower end of the support is simply inserted over thetop of a bottle 6 which then acts as a base.

The display card 10 of the unit is fabricated from a sheet or roll ofcardboard stock or the like. It should be noted that this stock consistsof thin material which is relatively inexpensive and by itself, as itcomes from the stock, has no appreciable rigidity.

As shown in Figure 2, the card 10 has three parallel lines 11, 12 and 13scored across its width and adjacent its upper edge 14, thus defining aninner panel 15, central panel 16 and outer panel 17. An oval-shapedaper- 2,882,629 Patented Apr. 21, 1959 ice ture 18 is cut into thecentral portion of panel 16 for receiving the upper end of support 7.

- A line 19 is scored across the card adjacent its lower edge anddefines a bottom panel 20 having an aperture 21 cut in the centralportion thereof. A line 22 is scored adjacent one of the sides of thecard to define a side panel 23 and a parallel line 24 is scored adjacentthe opposite side of the card to define another side panel 25. It willbe noted that the side panels terminate a distance short of the entireheight of the card.

The card described above is formed by a die cutting operation whichgives it the outline shown and forms the apertures 18 and 21.

v The card is sufficiently thin so as to be capable of being rolled upfrom the position shown in Figure 2, and inserted in tube 7. If theadditional tube 8 is used, the smaller tube would first beinsertedwithin the larger tube and then the rolled card would be inserted inthe'inner tube. Thus a compact and strong mailing package is providedwhich requires no wrapping, the support itself forms a mailing tube.

To assemble the unit, the lower flange 20 is turned rearwardly and itsaperture 21 receives the tube 7. Thus the lower flange reinforces andstiffens the lower edge of the card. The aperture 21 is of such a sizeas to receive the tube rather snugly.

I The side panels 23 and 25 are then turned rearwardly and theirupperends are folded farther until they contact the back side of thecard.

The top panels 15, 16 and 17 are then folded by creasing the scoredlines 11, 12 and 13, to assume the position shown in Figure '1. In thisposition, the upper edge 14 bears against the front edge of the panel15, more particularly along the scored line 11. The central panel 16 isinclined at an angle, while the panel 15 is substantially horizontal anddefines the top side of the unit.

Because the panel 16 is inclined in the assembled position, the aperture18 is of oval shape so as to snugly receive the vertical support tube 7.

The tube is then also inserted through aperture 18,

and the flange 20 is pulled downwardly on the tube so as to make thecard display surface 27 taut on the tube. Frictional resistance tomovement between the flange 20 at the aperture 21 and the tube 7 helpsto hold the display surface 26 in an extended or flat position.

The tube, when inserted in aperture 18, prevents the bar formed by thetop panels from unfolding. The upper ends of the side panels are heldsecurely between the bar and the back side of the card proper.

The upper end of the tube 7 bears against the panel 15 and the panels15, 16 and 17 form a rigid tubular bar across the top of the card. Theweight of the card is supported by the bar which rests on the tubularsupport 7 and forms a T-shaped support structure therewith.

The side panels 23 and 25 stiffen the side edges of the card and aid inmaintaining the display surface 26 in a flat position. The panels 23 and25 are turned rearwardly and are held along most of their length in adirection substantially normal to the card proper by being insertedunder the rigid top bar as mentioned. Stated otherwise, the upper end ofthe side panels are inserted under the panel 17 which then prevents theside panels 23 and 25 from returning to their normal or unfoldedposition.

By means of this invention, an eflicient display sign has been providedwhich is economical to manufacture and easily assembled or disassembled.Although the card is formed from relatively thin material, it is held ina fiat and rigid position when it is used. The card can be rolled withinits support to form a compact and durable package for storage ormailing.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are con templated as .beingwithin the scopeof-the following .claims particularly pointing out anddistinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as theinvention.

I claimf l. A display unit comprising, an11pright:support, a displaycard formed from-a blank of'thin stock and having adjacent its-top edgea plurality of panels said panels turned to form a-rigidtubular baracross the top of'said card, said bar having an-aperture throughwhich-saidsupport may be inserted into said bar, a-bottom panel alongthe lower edge of said card and having an aperture through whichsaidsupport .passes, and a foldedreinforcing panel at each side of said cardand having atop and inserted between said bar and saidcard'to thereby.hold said reinforcing "panels ina folded position.

2. A display unit comprising, an upright support, :a display cardformedfrom a blank of thin paper stock and having adjacent its top edgea central panel and a vertical panel all foldably connectedtogether,saidpanels folded relativeto one another toform afrigid'tubularbar across the top of'said card, sa'id'bar horizontal top :panel,a

having an aperture'through which said support may be inserted-into saidbar, a bottom panel along the lower edge of said card and having anaperture through which said support passes, and a 'folded reinforcingpanel'at each side of saidcard and having a'top end insertedbetween saidbar and saidcard to thereby hold said reinforcing v panels in a foldedposition.

3. A display unit comprising, a display :card :formed from a blank ofthin cardboard stockand having adjacent its top edge a plurality ofparallel scored lines which define a top panel, 'a central panel andavertical panel, said panels foldable to form a "rigid tubular bar acrossthe top of said card, said central panel having an aperture throughwhich said support maybe inserted :into said bar Where it bears againstsaid top -panel,'a bottom panel along the lower-edge'ofsaidcardandh'aving an aperturethrou'gh=Whichsaid=supportsnugly passes, and afolded reinforcing 'panel at each "side of said card 'andhaving 'a topend inserted between said bar andsaid card to thereby hold saidreinforcing :panels in a folded position.

4. A knockdown, paperboard,tdisplay unit comprising;

a tubular uprightsupport,

.an upright .tuhularpaperboardsupport, a display card cut and scoredfrom a blank of thin paperboard stock and having adjacent its top edge aplurality of parallel scored lines which define a top panel, a centralpanel and a vertical panel, said panels foldable to form a rigid tubularbar across the top of said card, said bar having an aperture throughwhich said support may be inserted into said bar to prevent said barfrom unfolding and to bear against said bar for supporting said card, -abottom panel along the lower cdgeuof said card-and having an aperturethrough which said support passes in frictional engagement with saidbottom panel, and-a scored line at each side of-said card whicheachdefine a foldable .side panel, and having a top end inserted betweensaid bar and said card to thereby hold said reinforcing panels in afolded position.

5. In a display unit, an upright support, a display card formed from ablank of thin stock and having adjacent its top edge-a plurality :ofpanels, said panels turned to form -a rigid tubular "bar across the topof said card, said 'bar'hav'ing an aperture through which said supportmay be inserted into saidbar, and a folded-reinforcing panel at foldedposition. 6. In'a knockdown,1paperboard,'display unit, an uprighttubular paperboard support, a display card cut and scored 'frorn ablank'o'f thin paperboard stock and "having adjacent its 'top edge aplurality of parallel scored lines 'whichdefine a top'panel, a centralpanel :and a vertical panel, said panels foldable to 'form a'rigidtubular bar across the "top of said card, said bar having 'an aperture-'-throug'h'which said support may be inserted into said bar to preventsaid'ba'r from 'unfolding and to bear against said bar for supportingsaid card, and a scored line at each side of'said card which-each defineafoldable side panel "having a 'top 'endinserted between said 'bar andsaid card totherebyhdldsaid reinforcingpanels in a folded position.

'References-Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,270,763 Nofziger- .Jan. 20, '1942 2,654,970 Miller Oct. .13, 19532,764,829 Kingman Oct. 2, 1956

